According to a study by PEW Research Center, in 2006, 73% of Americans owned a cell phone. That statistic excludes the use of smart phones at the time. Furthermore, 72% owned a desktop or laptop computer and 20% owned an MP3 player. Overall, 73% of Americans used the internet.

As of 2014, 90% of Americans owned cellphones, 64% had a smart phone, 32% owned an eBook reader, and 42% owned a tablet computer. As of 2014, 87% of Americans use the internet on a regular basis.

As you can see, Americans have dramatically increased their usage of the internet via smartphones, tablets, and other electronics since 2006. The modern world is becoming exponentially interconnected. While this technological growth is impressive, it has also led to more opportunities for individuals to commit or become a victim of cybercrime.To combat this negative trend, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) hosted a Cybercrime Conference in Glynco, Georgia earlier this year. The goal of the event was to advance the knowledge of forensic tools and techniques used to understand and prevent cybercrime. As stated by FLETC on Twitter, “The purpose of the cybercrime conference is to foster education and awareness of the threats that [are] impacting LE [Law Enforcement] officers.”

Providing more training events for federal agency members and raising awareness of cybercrime threats as technology evolves is important for cybercrime prevention. The more accessible the internet becomes to users, the faster law enforcement must adapt.FLETC customized unique training tracks for the different professionals who attended the conference. The training curriculum for First Responders centered on the impact of smart phones and how to efficiently incorporate these devices into investigations. The Legal track focused on the fine line between invasion of privacy and investigative jurisdiction. Multiple topics were highlighted as well such as an introduction to JTAG for mobile forensics and a demonstration of Blacklight Software. JTAG uses advanced data acquisition to help users bypass security features like lock screens to access necessary information and can even retrieve data off broken devices. Blacklight analyzes computer volumes and mobile devices and includes analysis of memory images with the goal of providing comprehensive and easily searchable data.

Tri-Tech Forensics is glad to have had the opportunity to attend the FLETC Cybercrime Conference this year and to be included in the cybercrime awareness and prevention conversation. The opportunity to network with individuals who share the same drive to protect the public is always a privilege.​Our mission regarding digital forensics has always been to be “leaders of custom built innovation." We actively engage with others who also value maintaining a position on the edge of leading technology in order to grow as an industry together. We will continue to search for the latest technological innovations and resources needed to support law enforcement with the ongoing task of targeting cyber criminals and bringing them to justice.